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A Compilation of Data 
Published for Those Who Are 


Interested in 


BETTER BOOKBINDING 


MCMXXVI 


BINDERS BoarRD MANUFACTURERS 
ASSOCIATION 


18 East 41st Street, New York, N. Y. 


, BINDERS 
ManuFAacTURERS 


U 


ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
The Binders Board Manufacturers 


Association wishes to thank all those who 
have given data and information of use in 
compiling this book. The Association 
greatly appreciates the interest and co- 
operation shown in personal interviews, 
correspondence, and answers to question- 
naires. 
Leicu H. Davey, President, 


BINDERS Boarp MANUFACTURERS 
ASSOCIATION 


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BOCCACEIO - 


A binding that has lasted since the early 


part of the Sixteenth Century 


IOWA TION GOW GOW GOW OGIO GOW CGO CGO? 


THE DEVELOPMENT OF BOOKBINDING 


ITH the invention of the folded leaf, about 

400 a.p., book bindings came into use. 
Before that time, books had been lettered on 
scrolls, rolled, and inserted inacase. ‘The earliest 
bindings were of metal—gold or silver, chased, 
carved, beautifully enameled, or even jeweled. 
Richly embroidered velvet was also used. 

Leather for book bindings was first introduced as 
an economy. It was none the less skillfully 
ornamented, and was soon found to be very beau- 
tiful, as well as very practical, lending itself 
readily to a variety of treatments. One of the 
finest specimens of the earlier leather bindings 1s 
the little Gospel of St. John, taken from the tomb 
of St. Cuthbert. This little volume, made in the 
tenth century, is a beautiful example of skilled 
craftsmanship, and its state of preservation is 
remarkable. It is bound with wooden boards, 
covered with red leather. 

The invention of printing, in 1454, like the in- 
vention of the folded leaf, marked an epoch of 
great significance in the history of binding. Books 
could now be made in larger quantities, and their 
distribution and use became far more general. It 
was in the fifteenth century—the time of Maioli 
and Grolier—that the art of bookbinding attained 
its highest perfection. 

Grolier, who was Treasurer of the Duchy of 


Page Nine 


BO UN DT O- CLASS a 


Milan under Louis XII, possessed one of the most 
famous libraries the world has ever known. 
Today his library would not be considered a large 
one, but no present-day collection could rival it for 
specimens of beautiful binding. Due to the efforts 
of the Grolier Club, in their library in New York 
many of Grolier’s bindings, and many other rare 
and exquisite specimens of the art of bookbinding, 
are preserved, and their history is recorded for 
future generations. 

Grolier’s books were made for him in France and 
Italy. The great Aldus, whom he befriended, 
made some of the best of them. It is probable 
that if Grolier did not actually draw the designs 
for his covers, he greatly influenced their making, 
for they are all characterized by their geometrical 
patterns. The cover of this book is a facsimile of 
a Grolier design. The influence of his charac- 
teristic designs is still strongly felt. 


Material and design were the outstanding fea- 
tures of the earlier specimens of bookbinding. In 
those days craftsmanship was to be expected in the 
making of any beautiful object. Time wasa slight 
consideration, and the patience of the early crafts- 
man seems to have been almost unlimited. Great 
ingenuity was displayed both in design and in 
execution. Leather of many kinds was used. 
Flammarion’s copy of his own “Ciel et Terre” 
was not the first volume to be bound in what had 
once been the white and gleaming shoulders of a 
countess. | 


Due to the infinite care and patience that went 
into their making, it has been possible to preserve 


Page Ten 


mow ND TO LAST 


many interesting specimens from the libraries of 
patrons of the art of bookbinding at its height. In 
the time of Louis XII, the Eves family were 
binders for the Court. They designed and made 
many beautiful books for the King, for Queen 
Catherine, and for Diane de Poitiers. 


But often the greatest artists among bookbinders 
worked obscurely and in poverty. About this 
time, Payne, in England, feeble and poor and old, 
toiled slowly in a dingy little room. Here, in the 
midst of hopeless, squalid disorder, a precious 
manuscript might lie on a shelf with a moldy old 
shoe and a loaf of bread. Yet the work of Payne 
lives after him, in the books he bound with such 
infinite care in that sordid little room. 


In the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, 
bookbinding became more commercialized. For 
a time the very unsatisfactory method of binding 
books in paper-covered boards was used. Then 
the backs were covered with cloth, the paper being 
used only for the sides. In 1822 Archibald 
Leighton, binder for the chief publishers of that 
day in England, introduced bookcloth, which was 
a decided improvement over paper-covered boards. 
But good book-making was at a very low ebb at 
this time. Board as well as cloth was in the ex- 
perimental stage, and the machinery used lacked 
its present-day perfection. 


Ruskin and William Morris brought a revival of 
the art, with their belief that design and craft 
should never be separated. ‘The books of William 
Morris of the Kelmscott Press, and the beautiful 
bindings of Cobden-Sanderson, show the perfec- 


Page Eleven 


B’O UND” <E.0O> tlAgase 


tion attained when design and craftsmanship go 
hand in hand. Cobden-Sanderson practiced his 
belief that each man who worked on a book had a 
part in creating the artistic whole, and that each 
should be given credit for his part. 


Gradually, traditions of artistic book making are 
being revived. Publishers are making more beau- 
tiful and more substantial bindings—not merely 
for special editions, but for the books on their gen- 
eral lists. For a time one of the younger Amer- 
ican publishing houses whose books are particu- 
larly interesting followed Cobden-Sanderson’s idea 
of giving credit for each part in the making of the 
book. In the back of each of their books they gave 
a brief but very interesting note on the materials 
used, on the typography, and the name of the 
printer, the binder and the designer. It is to be 
hoped this practice will be revived, not only by 
this frm, but by others, for there 1s undoubtedly 
a growing interest in good book making in this 
country, and an increasing general knowledge of 
the factors entering into a well-made book. 


Page Twelve 


IWIN GOW ION GOW GION GIIOW FIO WGN GIOW 


PRESENT-DAY BOOKBINDING 


HE present revival of interest in good book 

making includes the practical as well as the 
artistic. The greater use of books makes it more 
than ever necessary that the practical side be con- 
sidered. Books are no longer merely objects of 
art, to be collected by the wealthy. ‘They play a 
very definite part in daily life because of their use 
in education, in office practice and in industry, and 
their widespread general use for pleasure and 
improvement. Books are used, and often given 
very hard use and evenabuse. ‘Therefore, durable 
binding is important. 

The principal factors in bookbinding are the 
board, the sewing and the gluing. Cloth, leather, 
fabric, or whatever material is used to cover the 
boards, is also important, but here there is a wide 
range of choice, and much depends on the particu- 
lar use of the book and the amount to be spent in 
its making. But on the board, the sewing and the 
gluing, the wearing qualities of a book depend to 
a very large extent. The board is the foundation 
of the binding. If the board cracks, warps or 
breaks, it causes the cloth to wear, and the sewing 
and gluing to pull loose. If the board 1s soft, the 
corners of the book are easily damaged. 

A reputation for good bindings is of value to the 
publisher. ‘There was a time when the so-called 
“average” person knew the name of the book he 


Page Thirteen 


BOUND 10 CLAS 


read; those slightly above the average knew also 
the name of the author. Today, the average 
person is often somewhat abashed if he does not 
know the name of the author as well as the name 
of the book, and observation in bookshops shows 
that a surprising number of people know the differ- 
ent publishers and what they stand for, and that 
they are interested in knowing who publishes the 
books they buy. American publishers are build- 
ing their traditions, and the quality of their bind- 
ings plays a not unimportant part in the reputa- 
tions they establish. 

A recent very excellent editorial says, ““A well- 
made book, like a well-made chair, appeals to the 
eye because it is ‘right,’ and far more people can 
appreciate that feeling of rightness than can ex- 
plain the reasons for their feeling.” 


A good, substantial binding is a thing that more 
and more book buyers are demanding. And since 
books are often used for pleasure as well as profit, 
a pleasing binding also has its value. But the 
most beautifully designed binding will fail to have 
that essential “rightness” unless good materials 
are used in its making. 


Page Fourteen 


il 


1c as we 


1st 


ings that are art 
as durable 


ind 


Examples of b 


Page Fifteen 


BINDERS BOARD 
What It Is 


DEVELOPED primarily for the binding 
of books, Binders Board is a single ply 
fiber board, made from paper stock by a 
process wherein the stock is ground into 
fine fibers which are tightly matted and 
mixed together. One of its chief advan- 
tages is that it is homogeneous and has 
no plys to separate. The surface is 
smooth and uniform. It takes paste well 
and embosses cleanly. The process of 
manufacture makes Binders Board dense, 
stiff, tough, resilient and free from 
a tendency to warp—giving 
it the qualities necessary 
for a durable and sub- 
stantial binding. 


€ é 


Page Sixteen 


RENTON GION OGIO OGIO OGIOW O1GIOW OGIO OGIO OGIO 


ON THE WEAR OF BOOKS 


OOKS in general use can be divided into three 

classes: Text books—and under this class 
come all school and college books and the instruc- 
tion books used for industrial purposes; public 
library books, embracing all types of books, of 
course, and books in the private library. The 
private library may mean the few volumes in any 
individual’s possession, or the thousands in the 
library of a collector. 


Naturally, because of their use, text books re- 
ceive the hardest wear. Also, they are very likely 
to receive more abuse than any other class of 
books. Some children are trained from. their 
earliest years to respect books and to use them 
properly, but perhaps these children are in the 
minority; and we cannot deny or alter the fact 
that many children seem to be born with the 
destructive instinct. Therefore, text books must 
be made as durable as possible to resist both wear 
and abuse. 


Realizing the necessity for durable binding on 
text books, most publishers use for these books 
only the best of materials and workmanship. 
Even though competition is very keen in this field, 
and prices are very low, most publishers find the 
slight extra cost of the best materials quite worth 
while. Because text books are now supplied free 
in many States, the quality of binding receives 


Page Seventeen 


B:O,UN DT 0) )UAgSa 


most rigid inspection at the hands of the authori- 
ties who select the books. And since publishers 
know it is to their advantage to have their books 
adopted year after year, they not only want their 
bindings to pass the inspection, but to give satis- 
factory service in use. Therefore, the general 
standard of binding on text books is very high. 


Unfortunately, so far the libraries have not been 
able to get publishers to meet the needs of their | 
conditions. Library books also receive hard and 
often very constant use. But libraries must buy 
books of all kinds, and except at extra expense 
they cannot have their books especially bound for 
them. Librarians have many opportunities to 
observe the durability of bindings, and they feel 
that the general quality of publishers’ bindings is 
very low. 


In comparatively recent years a new situation 
has developed, which may sooner or later present 
a problem to publishers. This is the rental 
library. And yet, perhaps, it is an open ques- 
tion whether the publisher regards the rental 
library as an enemy who prevents the sale of many 
books, or a friend who causes a far wider general 
circulation of the books on his list. It is very 
likely that the latter estimate is the true one—for 
the rental libraries offer many people the oppor- 
tunity to read books they could not otherwise 
afford. 

Either because of the great increase in the read- 
ing public—what might almost be called the new 
popularity of reading—or because popular fiction 
is expensive and the rental library an economy, 


Page Eighteen 


PeeeweN: D* lO LAAs iT 


the number of these libraries has increased re- 
markably in the past few years. Some of the 
older and larger ones have a well-established cus- 
tom of selling their books while they are still prac- 
tically new. This amounts to a cut-rate business, 
really, and undoubtedly does not work to the pub- 
lishers’ advantage. To libraries of this class the 
question of wear on their books is not serious. 


But to the rental library whose real business is 
the renting of books, the question of wear is a very 
serious one—even more so than to the large, well- 
endowed public library. For current fiction, the 
average binding used is very poor. It may be gay 
and quite attractive, but the idea always has been 
that such a book is read once and discarded. 
Naturally, in any library this is not the case. To 
the rental library, particularly, it presents a prob- 
lem when in the height of a book’s popularity all 
their copies go to pieces with great suddenness. 
Because of the time element and the small margin 
of profit, the rental libraries cannot afford special 
bindings before the books are put into circulation, 
nor re-binding in the midst of their brief career. 


Publishers are firm in their opinion that current 
popular fiction is read once or twice and then either 
discarded or relegated to the least used shelves of 
the bookcase. Very often this is true; yet, pos- 
sibly, the situation is being rapidly changed, for 
several reasons. ‘The increasing use of libraries 
does decrease the sale of books to certain indivi- 
duals, but on the other hand the sales to libraries 
are enormously increased. And if it does happen 
that in time, either because of economy, conven- 


Page Nineteen 


BO. UN-D: <T.0° sl*Agsae 


ience, or lack of space for books in the modern 
small apartment, the library business exceeds the 
sale of fiction to individuals, the durability of 
binding will assume greater importance. 


In the home library, the wear on books varies 
greatly. Of course, no book can stand certain 
kinds of abuse. Also, certain extremes of atmos- 
phere or temperature will ruin any binding. Books 
cannot be kept in a damp basement, nor can they 
be expected to stand the effect of artificial heat 
that is too intense and too dry. However, a well- 
made book should stand ordinary changes of season 
or atmospheric conditions. Any book may break 
at the corners if it has a hard enough fall, but if 
it is bound with good board, broken corners will 
be rare. 


Warping is one of the chief troubles with books 
in ordinary use. Any book may warp if it is re- 
moved from the press too soon. Any book will 
warp if it is left in a very damp place, or in too dry 
heat. Any book may warp if the paper linings 
and the cloth are not glued properly. But a 
properly made book bound with binders board will 
not warp under any ordinary conditions. 

Today, the person who buys a book usually 
buys it to keep, perhaps to read and re-read. 
Therefore, the wearing qualities of the binding 
are of importance in books for general use, as well 
as for schools and libraries. 


Page Twenty 


AIO ARON HO PTO PGE CPR GION GOW CHOW GED 


INVESTIGATION AND RESEARCH 


HE Binders Board Manufacturers Associa- 

tion has made an extensive survey of the 
whole book industry, including the use of books and 
the qualities of board used in bookbinding in this 
country. This investigation and research was 
carried on among bookbinders, publishers, libra- 
rians, state and city boards of education, book 
stores, manufacturing stationers and_ technical 
laboratories. 


Because of their accurate records, kept over 
many years, and because of ample opportunity to 
observe the life of bindings, librarians were able 
to furnish the most detailed information of any 
group approached. Figures were compiled from 
the information received from ninety-three repre- 
sentative public libraries in this country. ‘These 
libraries range from the smallest to the largest in 
SIZe. 

These ninety-three libraries buy 1,390,131 books 
annually. They have 998,400 books rebound 
annually, at an average cost of 75 cents per book. 
In the publishers’ binding, the average number of 
times a book can be issued is seventeen. Rebound 
according to American Library Association Stand- 
ard Practice, a book can be issued from fifty to 
one hundred times, depending on the life of the 
paper. The problem of rebinding is a serious one 
to libraries, not only because of the expense, but 


Page Twenty-one 


A MACHINE THAT WEARS OUT BOOKS 


Tue best test that can be made is the test of 

service. This machine, the ‘‘tumbler,”’ is used 

to determine the wearing qualities of binding. 

For these particular tests, several books were 

bound exactly alike, except for the board. The 

books were then tumbled about in the machine. 
Results showed that books bound with Binders 
Board are far more resistant to wear than 

those bound with substitutes. 


Page Twenty-two 


BpacrUeN DPD? T.O° LA ST 


because the book must often be taken away for 
rebinding at a time when it is most needed in 
circulation. 

It is significant that books rebound for libraries 
wear more than three times as long as in their 
original bindings. The American Library Asso- 
ciation Standard Practice for binding gives very 
specific instructions regarding the quality of mate- 
rial to be used. Binders Board is the foundation 
of all books bound according to these specifications. 
Many librarians state that the weakest places in 
bindings are the sewing and the gluing, and it is 
true that where the best board is used it outwears 
the stitching and the gluing. But better known 
library binders, and the heads of the libraries’ own 
binderies, rate the gluing, the stitching and the 
board of equal importance. A book is much like 
a chain, in being as strong as its weakest link, 
and if the board breaks or warps, it will pull the 
stitching and the gluing loose. 

The chief recommendation of the librarians is 
that improvement be made in the publishers’ 
bindings. There are 1,940 public and society 
libraries in the United States. Ninety-three of 
these buy 1,390,131 books annually, from which it 
would seem that their business is of some value 
to the publishers. Better original bindings would 
enable libraries to cut their enormous yearly ap- 
propriations for re-binding, and divert some of 
this saving to the purchase of new books. 

There is an increasing tendency among pub- 
lishers to have their binding done on contract by 
the larger bookbinders. Naturally, bookbinders 


Page Twenty-three 


B.O.UN Di “T OF FU Asse 


are very well informed as to the best materials for 
their purposes. ‘They are practically unanimous 
in their opinion that good board is of prime in- 
portance and that Binders Board always makes a 
better binding than any substitute. Many of the 
binders who bind publishers’ books on contract 
also do an enormous amount of rebinding for 
libraries. These, and all reputable library binders, 
say that they use Binders Board exclusively for 
library binding, whether it is specified or not, for 
they know it is the only board that will give the 
required service. 


The majority of binders say they prefer not to 
use substitutes for Binders Board in any case, but 
very often they are forced to because of severe 
competition for the publishers’ business. They 
say that publishers too often are interested in 
getting the lowest possible price, with too little 
regard for the quality of the work. Binders agree 
that Binders Board adds to the value of the book 
far more than the one half to one cent it adds to the 
cost of the average sized book. 


Many publishers know the value of good board, 
and many of them interviewed in this investiga- 
tion realize that there 1s an increasing demand for 
good binding. Most of them believe that for cer- 
tain books the quality of the binding is unim- 
portant—but there are exceptions to this. One of 
the oldest publishing houses states that they do 
not believe fiction is subjected to hard wear, but 
they prefer to maintain the highest standards of 
quality in every book bearing their imprint. 
Therefore, for their fiction as well as for their 


Page Twenty-four 


PaQeuaN D> -l:O° “LAST 


general books, they use board and other materials 
for binding that are in keeping with the high 
standards of their house. 


There are, however, a number of publishers who 
are not well informed as to the materials used in 
any of their bindings. ‘They are very much in- 
clined to “leave it to the binder.’ Where his con- 
tract permits him to do so at a legitimate profit, 
the binder uses Binders Board because he knows it 
enables him to turn out better work. Many pub- 
lishers have appreciated the 1 increasing interest in 
good book making to the extent of paying more and 
more attention to design and typography. Un- 
fortunately, the durability of bindings has not 
received its fair share of attention. 


Publishers who have made a study of boards 
used for bookbinding recognize the value of Binders 
Board. Many of them say they can distinguish 
readily between a book bound with Binders Board 
and a substitute. ‘hey say there is a difference in 
the “‘feel’’ of the book, as well as in its appearance 
and wearing qualities. Many of these publishers 
who have studied boards carefully are publishers 
of text books. ‘They state that Binders Board is 
necessary for their books—that even the cheapest 
books, bound with Binders Board, will stand daily 
use for two or three years. 

The investigation among State and City Boards 
of Education showed that while the individuals 
responsible for the buying of school books have a 
very good idea of how strong a binding should be, 
very few of them know the exact materials needed 
to meet the requirements. In the selection of text 


Page Twenty-five 


BOUND’ TO” DL Asse 


books, many rather rough and ready tests are used 
to determine the durability of the binding. Greater 
knowledge of the materials required to give bind- 
ings the necessary durability would enable them 
to make more definite specifications and to depend 
less on inaccurate methods of testing bindings. 


Book dealers who were interviewed said that 
the interest in better made books is widespread 
and rapidly increasing. They say that although 
the general standard of publishers bindings is not 
high, the revival of printing as an art is drawing 
more and more attention to good binding. Many 
publishers are making books of very beautiful 
design, and many of them are bringing the quality 
of their bindings up to a standard more in keeping 
with the beauty of their designs. 

Book dealers also comment on the increasing 
tendency of the general public to read more non- 
fiction, with the result that the books are not 
thrown away. Many more biographies, books of 
travel, of history, criticism and science are being 
read. Library statistics also prove this. ‘This in- 
creasing tendency to read, and to read a high type 
of literature, naturally increases the general in- 
terest in good books, in their make-up as well as in 
their contents. 

In this investigation, it was the purpose of the 
Binders Board Manufacturers Association to get a 
true picture of the situation exactly as it exists, 
and the results proved conclusively that there 1s an 
increasing interest in better bound books. 


Page Twenty-six 


IWAN ROW GOW OF GIOW OP FIOW 1 FIOW CPFIOW OFBOWETGIOW 


HOW BINDERS BOARD IS MADE 


OOKBINDERS are, of course, familiar with 

the grades of Binders Board obtainable for 

use in their work, and the distinctions between the 

various grades are perhaps of no interest to the 

layman. All grades of Binders Board are made by 

the same process, all of them being solid boards 

formed on a machine, as differentiated from pasted 

board, which is composed of two or more layers of 
boxboard put together with silicate of soda. 


Both Binders Board and pasted board are made 
from the same material—that is, from paper stock. 
It is in the manufacturing processes that they 
differ. The process of its manufacture gives to 
Binders Board a greater density, rigidity and 
ability to stand abuse, as well as freedom from a 
tendency to warp. 

The selection of raw stock is one of the most 
serious problems confronting Binders Board manu- 
facturers, because the presence of particles of . 
metal or rubber in the finished product will cause 

trouble to the user. ‘Therefore, great care 1s used 
in selecting the raw materials, in order to obtain 
a stock free from harmful substances. Also, at 
different stages in the process of manufacture, 
mechanical devices—metal catchers, screens, etc.— 
are used to remove metal and dirt. 

The process of manufacture of Binders Board 1s 
not a complicated one to follow. The raw stock 


Page Twenty-seven 


BOUND TO  LeAgeer 


The beaters, where the raw stock 1s beaten into 


fine fibers 


is first fed directly into beaters, where it is broken 
up into fine fibers. From the beaters, the stock 
goes to a Jordan engine, where it is further refined. 
These operations are carried out with the aid of 
sufficient water to make a suspension which will 
flow readily. 

The next part of the operation is the removing 
of most of the water from the mass of fibers. ‘This 
is done by revolving a cylinder covered with wire 
cloth in the vat containing the stock. The water 
flows through the wire cloth, while the fibers re- 
main behind and collect on the meshes of the wire. 


Page Twenty-eight 


PonwN DS TO] LAS T 


Paper machine, which rolls the stock into a 
solid, homogeneous sheet 


Only part of the cylinder is below the surface of the 
stock in the vat. ‘The upper part of the cylinder 
is in contact with a woolen felt which moves at the 
same rate of speed. ‘The felt picks the stock from 
the revolving cylinder and carries it along to the 
making roll. While still in a wet state, it is rolled 
into a solid homogeneous sheet, with the fibers 
intermixed and tightly matted together. 

This solid homogeneous sheet, two or three times 
the thickness of the board when finished, is then 
slashed through, so that it falls from the drum as 
a slab of wet board five or six feet square. Mechan- 


Page Twenty-nine 


BOUND T0 + LAGE 


Hydraulic press, where pressure mats the fibers 
more tightly together 


ically operated saws cut it into sizes convenient to 
handle. 

These smaller slabs are placed on the bed of a 
hydraulic press and put under a pressure of one 
hundred to one hundred and fifty tons, until each 
one is compressed into a still more thoroughly 
homogeneous mass, and all the water that can be 
removed by pressure is squeezed out. This pres- 
sure in the hydraulic press is a very important 
part of the manufacturing process, since it does 
much to give Binders Board its great density. 

Even at this stage the board contains over 50% 


Page Thirty 


POUND: TO LAST 


The drying room, where carefully regulated 
steam heat dries the boards 


of water, which can be removed only by heat. So 
the boards are placed in drying rooms heated by 
steam and left until they are thoroughly dried. 
The heat in these rooms is carefully regulated and 
controlled, resulting in a uniform shrinkage which 
further increases the strength and density of 


Binders Board. 


From the dryer the sheets go forward for inspec- 
tion. ‘They are still in a somewhat rough and un- 
finished form. Each one is weighed and carefully 
calibrated for number. After being assorted as to 
size, the sheets are run through a sprinkler and 


Page Thirty-one 


B'OUN D. T O's tease 


The inspection—every sheet of Binders Board 
1s inspected by a skilled workman 


from there are sent to calender rolls which com- 
press them to the predetermined required thick- 
ness, and give each sheet a smooth, finished sur- 
face. The rolls are set so as to give the proper 
pointage to the finished board. 


These smooth, finished boards have been sub- 
ject to a tempering process in their manufacture. 
For still further “‘seasoning”’ they are kept on 
hand for a time under favorable storage conditions. 
Therefore, the consumer of Binders Board does 
not have to stock it in advance for seasoning. 
He can use the boards as received, or he can store 


Page Thirty-two 


PeosUeNs Ds TO: LAST 


Calender, which compresses the sheets and gives 
them a smooth, finished surface 


them in a dry place with the assurance that when 
they are wanted they will be in the same condition 
as when received. 


From this description of the process, it 1s easy 
to see that labor is quite an item in the manu- 
facture of Binders Board. ‘The softer pasted 
boards are made in rolls, which requires much less 
handling than where the board is dried and finished 
in individual sheets, as is done in the case of Binders 
Board. Because of the additional labor involved, 
this method of making the board in single sheets 
increases the cost. However, it is the only way 


Page Thirty-three 


BOUND “TO: -LeAgSe 


to produce a board possessing the characteristics 
required for high grade binding, because the shrink- 
age is uniform, making the board stronger and 
more free from a tendency to warp. A single ply 
board uniformly dried in this way is not easily 
affected by atmospheric conditions. 


The process of manufacture makes Binders 
Board a dense, resilient board, with perfect sur- 
faces and uniform thickness. Its density makes it 
tough, stiff and durable. As every bookbinder 
knows, density and freedom from a tendency to 
warp are the most important characteristics for 
the board used in bookbinding. 


Page Thirty-four 


ARO AGO EFGIOW VION ORION CHOW CPGIOW GION OGIO WFO 


Papakea Oky TESTS AND PRACTICAL 
EXPERIENCE 


OMPARATIVE tests of Binders Board and 

its substitutes give conclusive proof of the 

greater wear-resistant qualities of Binders Board. 

Practical experience also proves that it is the 
best board for the binding of books. 

United States Government methods were used 
for testing board in the laboratory. In addition 
to these standard Government tests, various 
special tests were used. ‘The different boards 
were subjected to the following :* 

1. The Mullen Test, used to determine the 

resistance of board, by bursting pressure. 


The Mullen Tester is the most widely used 
machine for determining the strength of boards. 
It measures the force required to burst a hole 
through a sheet of board, and it shows the strength 
and toughness of the board better than any other 
test. 

With this instrument it required a pressure of 
3.41 pounds per thousandth of an inch thickness 
to rupture Binders Board. Substitutes for Binders 
Board proved to be only half as strong, for they 
burst when a pressure of 1.93 pounds was applied. 


*Note: All tests illustrated in this book have been applied to 
many samples of Binders Board and its substitutes. Average figures 
are given. 


Page Thirty-five 


BOUND FO) DA 


Good boards are uniform in thickness 


2. The Thickness Test, used to measure the 
thickness and uniformity of the board. 


For the Thickness Test, a micrometer capable 
of indicating variation of less than 1/1000 of an 
inch was used. ‘This test was used in the lab- 

oratory on many samples of various brands of 
- Binders Board and its substitutes. 

Also, this same micrometer test is part of the 
regular routine of inspection of Binders Board at 
the factory—boards not showing the required 
standard uniformity are rejected at once. There- 
fore the laboratory tests serve merely to confirm 
the uniformity of Binders Board. ‘The man- 
ufacturing process of Binders Board makes it 
particularly uniform. ) 

3. The Toughness Test determines both the 

toughness and the resiliency of board. 


The machine used for this test measures the 


Page Thirty-six 


Mos eN Dy 1 OL LAS T 


force required to bend a board over on itself 
until it breaks, and also measures the amount of 
bending the board will stand without breaking. 
This test showed Binders Board to be nearly 
50% stronger than substitutes. (.0722 per unit, 
against .051.) 


4. The Tensile Test, used to measure the 
force required to pull apart a test piece of 


board. 


In these tests, the Schopper Tensile Machine 
showed that a force of 108 pounds was required 
to pull a strip of Binders Board apart. Sub- 
stitute board of equivalent thickness broke under 
a tension of 75 pounds. ‘The Government tests 
board for its own use with this machine. 


5. The Tumbling Test, used to determine the 
actual wearing qualities of board. ‘This 
is described more fully under the illus- 
tration on page 22. 


In addition to all these tests, books bound with 
Binders Board and substitutes were put in cir- ~ 
culation in a public library, and the wearing 
qualities of the different boards compared. 


All of the comparative tests of Binders Board 
and its substitutes showed that Binders Board 
has far greater strength, toughness and _ uni- 
formity. They also show that books bound with 
Binders Board have longer life, and they sub- 
stantiate the correctness of the binders’ opinion, 
summarized briefly as follows: 


“The best and most durable bindings are 
made by using genuine Binders Board.” 


Page Thirty-seven 


BOUND TO LAST 


There could be no more conclusive proof of the 
superiority of Binders Board than its use by those 
whose years of experience have taught them that 
Binders Board is the best board for book binding. 
Every bookbinder of good standing uses and rec- 
ognizes Binders Board. 

Bookbinders have found that Binders Board 
makes a book that will wear well, look well, and 
have the feeling of “‘rightness’”’ that is essential to 
the well-bound book. Binders Board takes paste 
and glue well, and embosses cleanly. It enables 
the binder to do his best work. 

The Specifications for Library and School Book 
Binding, approved by the American Library Asso- 
ciation and the Employing Bookbinders of Amer- 
ica, call for a “good quality of Binders Board, 
suited in size and weight to weight of the book.” 
There are no exceptions. ‘This rule is to apply for 
all binding. 

Among publishers who have made a study of the 
question, there is unanimity of opinion in favor of 
Binders Board. The best publishers specify Binders 
Board for all their books, knowing that books 
bound with Binders Board will not readily break 
at the corners, warp or pull apart. 

Publishers of text books know that no other 
board gives the durability required for school 
books. Even for their lower priced books they 
find that it pays to spend the extra one-half to one 
cent per volume for the best board. 


All those experienced in binding know the im- 
portance of using good board. The board is the 
foundation of the binding. It holds the cloth, the 


Page Thirty-eight 


BOL ND «TO LAST 


end leaves and the backing together, supporting 
the whole structure of the book. Experienced 
binders know that when boards warp they cause 
the cloth to pull out of shape and wear through. 
The strain from warping boards causes the end 
leaves and the muslin guard to break, letting the 
book drop out of its binding. 


They have found that boards that split into 
several plies at the edges will soon break, wearing 
the cloth and making the binding ragged and un- 
sightly. Boards that separate into plies at the 
corners soon cause a book to become “‘dog-eared,”’ 
spoiling its appearance and offering the pages but 
little protection. Soft boards make a weak bind- 
ing, offering no resistance to wear. 

The well-bound book should have as its founda- 
tion a strong, resilient board that will not readily 
split, warp, nor break at the corners. 

To secure good bindings, which are bound to 
last, we recommend the following: 

First: Select a competent binder. 

Seconp: Tell him your particular problems. 

Turrp: Give careful consideration to his rec- 

ommendations. 

FourtH: Specify your materials and see that 

they are used. 

FirtH: Remember that Binders Board should 

always be used for the foundation of 
a durable binding, because it gives 
that essential feeling of “rightness” 
and because books bound with 
Binders Board are Bound to Last. 


Page Thirty-nine 


BOUND T.0° 7D Ate 


TRADE CUSTOMS 


Binders Board Manufacturers Association 
Effective Oct. Ist, 1926 
Bundle 
The standard package of Binders Board is a bundle weighing 
50 lbs. 


Count or Number 
By “Count” or “Number” is meant the number of sheets of any 
size in a bundle weighing 50 lbs. 


Regular Number 
The “Regular Number” indicates the number of sheets, 20 x 30 
in size, in a bundle of 50 lbs. 


Terms 
All accounts are due net in thirty days from dates of shipments. 
Any freight deductions made are conditional on the surrender 
of paid expense bills. 


Extra Charges 
All quotations for Binders Board thicker than a No. 12—20 x 30, 
or thinner than a No. 50—20 x 30 are made subject to extra 
charge. 
There is an extra charge for trimming to size. 


DIRECTIONS FOR ORDERING 


If purchasers will follow these directions it will greatly assist in 
giving the best possible service without delays and errors. 


Size 
In all cases, whether ordering regular stock or special sizes, state 
sizes wanted in inches. 


Weight or Thickness 
Specify the number of sheets wanted of the size ordered in each 
50 lb. bundle, or the caliper thickness. If the special size which 
may be ordered is to be made on the basis of a regular number 
or weight, state that fact clearly. Ifin doubt about the number, 
weight or thickness desired, send a sample showing exactly 
what is wanted. 


Page Forty 


DeoseN Ds TO LAS T 


Special Requirements 
State clearly all special requirements for each item, and when 
convenient describe any unusual or special use for which the 
product is wanted. 


Shipping Instructions 
Give name of consignee and destination. Mills reserve the right 
to route all goods sold at delivered prices. Give date of ship- 
ment desired. 
For shipment to points in any territory where arbitrary or local 
freight rates are charged, such additional charges will be added 
to the price quoted for deliveries in said territory. 


RESERVATIONS 


1. Prices quoted are subject to change without notice. 


2. Orders are not subject to cancellation or changes after acceptance 
without written consent. 


3. Orders should always be in the form of specifications of quantity, 
sizes, and weights or count, with a date for shipment. Specifica- 
tions may be changed if provided for when order is placed, and 
if stock has not been made. 


4. All promises of shipment are approximate and made subject to 
unforeseen or unavoidable delays. 


5. A variation of 3 per cent. in weight either over or under 50 lbs. 
per bundle is allowable and considered commercial delivery, 
but in all cases full sheetage to prevail. 


6. A variation in thickness of 5 points over or under the specified 
caliper is allowable on all Binders Board. 


7. No claims, allowances or damages will be entertained unless 
reported on arrival of goods and before using any portion thereof. 


8. Quotations for all Binders Board and special products are based 
on cutting off at the machine to approximate length, and shipping 
in unprotected bundles, unless otherwise specified herein. 
Squaring, trimming, or special packing must be clearly specified, 
for which an extra charge is made. 


Page Forty-one 


BOUND TO LAS 


BINDERS BOARD TABLE 
Showing pointage in one-thousandths of an inch 
of a few sizes of Binders Board. 
Other sizes can be made to order. 


Example No. 25 26’’x32’’—70 points or 70/1000 of an inch in thickness 


POINTS|175 145}135]125}120 


SIZE No.| No.| No.| No.| No.| No. 


26X32 5\ LO) LI 2) isan 


20x30 14] 15 17| 18} 19) 20 


22x26 | 14) 16 


22x28 | 14| 15 


22x30 | 13) 14] 15 


22540 PACD 


24x28 | 13) 14) 15 


24x30 | 12} 13) 14} 15 
24x32 
26x28 


"2630 
"2638 
27x40 
28x30 
30x42 


34x44 
35x48 


Page Forty-two 


PeOsUAN D2 51.07 *LeA*S eT 


MANUFACTURERS OF BINDERS 
BOARD 


CONSOLIDATED PAPER COMPANY 
Monroe, Mich. 


THE Davey Company 
164 Laidlaw Avenue, Jersey City, N. J. 


FANDANGO MILLS 
Millburn, N. J. 


Kerr Paper MILL ComMpaANy 
East Downingtown, Pa. 


Tue C. H. Norton Company 
North Westchester, Conn. 


THE OTTer River Boarp Co. 
Otter River, Mass. 


THe RIvERSIDE PAPER Mec. Co. 
Glastonbury, Conn. 


THe WEstTportT PapER COMPANY 
Westport, Conn. 


Further information about Binders Board will 
be furnished very gladly by any of the manufac- 
turers listed above, or by 


O. M. Porter, Secretary 
BiInpDERS Boarp MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION 
18 East 41st Street New York, N. Y. 


Page Forty-three 


B'O.U0 N D> “TO9 DATS 


BINDERS BOARD MANUFACTURERS 
ASSOCIATION 


What It Is and What It Does 


The Binders Board Manufacturers Association 
is an unincorporated, voluntary organization of 
the manufacturers of Binders Board. Its mem- 
bership represents approximately 80% of the 
tonnage of Binders Board now being manufac- 
tured in the United States. Its purpose is to 
extend the use of Binders Board, to maintain 
its qualities and standards and to render helpful 
service to the users of Binders Board. 


The members of the Association meet monthly 
to discuss business conditions and problems com- 
mon to all. Through the Association, members 
are kept informed of conditions in the industry, 
and are given technical information which permits 
them to co-operate with each other in reducing the 
cost of manufacture and distribution and main- 
taining the standards of Binders Board. 


The Association co-operates actively with the 
United States Department of Commerce and the 
American Paper and Pulp Association in efforts 
to protect the interests of the industry. 


O. M. Porter, Secretary, 
BinpERS Boarp MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION 


Page Forty-four 


PecaueN DD TO LA S.T 


CON PENDS 


Acknowledgment...... 


|) Rs Se 


The Development of Bookbinding.......... 


Present-day Bookbinding....... 


Binders Board—What ItIs............... 
rey) calOlL BOOKS. o2. 2. ce sa 
Investigation and Research............... 
How Binders Board Is Made.............. 


Laboratory Tests and Practical Experience. . 


Standard )rade Customs....... 


mincversmoara lable; ......2....%.:00.05 
Manufacturers of Binders Board......... 


Binders Board Manufacturers Association. . 


Page Forty-five 


BINDING, EUGENE C. LEWIS COMPANY 
BOOK CLOTH, INTERLAKEN MILLS 
TYPE, CASLON OLDSTYLE 
Planned and produced by 


WILLIAM GREEN 


A CORPORATION 
NEW YORK 


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